Jacobson



March 10, 1964 B. JACOBSON COVER TO IDENTIFY KEYS Filed Aug. 16, 1962 R m N ES B 0 C A U N, E B

United States Patent 3,123,926 CDVER TO IDENTIFY KEYS Ben Jacobson, 62 Broadfield Road, New Rochelle, N.Y. Filed Aug. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 217,485 1 Claim. (Cl. 40-330) This invention relates to identification devices generally and more particularly to an attachment for the head of a tumbler key for permitting the easy identification of a particular key from a group of similar keys.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an attachment for the head of a tumbler type key that is easily attached and readily removed from the key head.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment for a key head that permits the immediate identification in the dark of a desired key from a group of similar ke s.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for a key head that cannot cause injury to the person or the clothing of the user.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an identification attachment for a key made of resilient material, such as plastic or rubber, so that it can be readily slipped over the head of a key and readily slipped off the head.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an identification attachment for a key that is applicable to one of various sizes of keys and yet enable the key to be gripped firmly by the user.

The objects hereinbefore set forth as well as others hereinafter appearing are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing a key head attachment comprising an annular resilient plastic device with a shallow channel-shaped body adapted to he slipped over the head of the key and with protuberances and designs on the outer opposed surfaces of the body.

Accordingly, a feature of the invention is the employment of an annular resilient body channel-shaped in cross section with protuberances on the opposed surfaces of the body.

Another feature of the invention is the employment of a slot or slots in the annular body adapted to receive the shank of the key.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a key with a key attachment made in accordance with the invention in place thereon.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the key attachment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 44- of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a key attachment embodying a modified form of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIG. 2 a key attachment made in accordance with the invention is illustrated and designated generally at 10. The attachment 3,123,926 Patented Mar. 10, 1964 comprises an annular or ring-like body 12 composed of resilient plastic, rubber or other suitable resilient material. The body 12 is best illustrated in FIG. 2 and has a flat smooth peripheral edge 14 and narrow top and bottom flanges 16 and 18, respectively. The flanges 16 and 18 are closely spaced from each other and the surfaces thereof are smooth and flat. The flanges and the peripheral edge of the body define a shallow channel 20, the channel opening inwardly.

In accordance with the invention, a narrow closed slot 22 is formed in the peripheral edge 14 centrally thereof, the slot communicating with the channel 2?. in the body.

In carrying out the invention, for the purpose of identification, a design is embossed on the surfaces of the opposed flanges 16 and 18. For example, such design may take the form of a circular row of spaced protuberances or teats 24 protruding from the surfaces of the flanges. The protuberances or teats protrude outwardly sufficiently far to be felt by the fingers of the person using the key.

It will be understood that the design might take any desirable form capable of being felt by the fingers of the user of the key for identifying the particular key covered by the attachment.

The invention also contemplates that the plastic or rubber material of the attachment may be colored, for example, red, so as to distinguish the key from other keys by the sense of sight in daylight and under lights.

In use, the body 10 of the attachment is slipped over the head or handle portion 26 of a tumbler type key 28 by inserting the shank 36* of the key 28 through the slot 22 from the inside of and through the channel 2th of the body until the portion of the periphery of the head or handle portion 26 adjacent the juncture with the shank 34% seats in the channel 24} of the body adjacent the slot Ztl. By grasping the portion of the annular body 12 opposite said juncture, the body can be stretched outwardly and said opposite portion of the body slipped over the remainder of the periphery of the head or handle 26 of the key so that the entire periphery of the body is seated in the channel 20 with the flanges 16 and 18 extending inwardly of said peripheral edge of the head or handle as shown in FIG. 1.

Another key attachment 16 is shown in FIG. 5 cmbodying a modified form of the invention. This attachment 10 diflers from the form of attachment 1t) merely in that the peripheral edge 14' of the body is formed with another slot 32 opposite slot 22 and slightly longer than slot 22'.

The slot 32 enhances the flexibility and stretchability of the body and facilitates stretching the body over the head or handle of the key.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 152 A key attachment of the kind described comprising an annular shaped open deformable body of resilient material with narrow closely spaced side flanges, the peripheral edge of the body and said flanges defining a shallow 3 channel opening inwardly to fit a correspondingly shaped peripheral edge of the head of a key and adapted to be removably fitted over the peripheral edge of the key head, said body having a closed slot in its peripheral edge nor- Al to facilitate stretching of the annular shaped body over the peripheral edge of the head of the key, said latter means including an elongated closed slot in the peripheral edge of the annular body opposite said first-named mally of a size considerably less than the Wider extent 5 slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cicoul'el July 26, 1932 Stevenson Nov. 29, 1938 

